The Madrigal Society

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The Madrigal Society
Formationcirca 1741
Typeassociation of amateur musicians
Purposesinging of madrigals
Location
  • London, England

The Madrigal Society is a British association of amateur musicians, whose purpose is to sing madrigals. It may be the oldest club of its kind in existence in England. [1] :96 It was founded by the copyist John Immyns. Sir John Hawkins was an early member of the club and, in his General History of the Science and Practice of Music of 1776, gives the date of its foundation as 1741; [1] :99 [2] the earliest documentary evidence dates from 1744. [3] :192

In April 1940, due to The Blitz on London, the Society suspended its regular meetings, but resumed them in 1946, after the end of the Second World War. [4] :33


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References

  1. 1 2 Reginald Nettel (January 1948). The Oldest Surviving English Musical Club: Some Historical Notes on the Madrigal Society of London. The Musical Quarterly34 (1): 97–108. (subscription required).
  2. John Hawkins (1776). A General History of the Science and Practice of Music, five volumes. London: T. Payne.
  3. Charles Mackeson (1900). Madrigal Society. In: George Grove (editor) (1900). A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, volume II. London: Macmillan.
  4. J. G. Craufurd (1955–1956). The Madrigal Society. Proceedings of the Royal Musical Association, 82nd Session (1955–1956): 33–46. (subscription required).

Further reading